Bower WA, Culver DH, Castor D, Wu Y, James VN, Zheng H, Hammer S, Kuhnert WL, Williams IT, Bell BP, Vlahov D, Dezzutti CS. Changes in hepatitis C virus (HCV) viral load and interferon-alpha levels in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2006;
42:293-7. [PMID:
16763522 DOI:
10.1097/01.qai.0000221689.77220.42]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Reports are mixed as to whether highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) increases liver transaminase levels or hepatitis C virus (HCV) titers in HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals. It is hypothesized that increases in HCV RNA titers may result from changes in endogenous interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) production.
METHODS
HIV/HCV-coinfected patients receiving HAART were tested at baseline, 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9 months for liver transaminase levels, HIV and HCV viral loads, and IFN-alpha. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the effect of HAART on liver transaminase levels, HCV viral load, and IFN-alpha.
RESULTS
Initiating HAART did not increase liver transaminase levels in majority of cases. In patients (n = 30) with baseline HIV titer >10,000 copies/mL, HCV titers increased 0.69 log10 and IFN-alpha decreased -0.96 log10 during HAART, in association with a > or =0.5 log10 decrease in HIV titer. As HIV titers reached their nadir approximately 4 months after initiation of HAART, HCV titers remained 0.54 log10 and IFN-alpha -0.71 log10 above and below baseline levels, respectively. HCV titers and IFN-alpha levels did not change from baseline in patients with baseline HIV titer < or =10,000 copies/mL.
CONCLUSIONS
Coinfected patients did not have evidence of hepatoxicity HAART. In patients with baseline HIV titer >10,000 copies/mL, suppression of HIV replication by HAART was associated with an increase in HCV titer and a decrease in endogenous IFN-alpha levels.
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